How can information science contribute to Alzheimer's disease research?

There are many indicators about the worldwide rise of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Significant and urgent improvements are needed in the areas of prevention, drug discovery, treatment, cost-effective delivery of health-care service, and caregiver support. Researchers and professionals from medicine, nursing, health care, computer science, economics and other disciplines have intensified interdisciplinary efforts to address this looming global crisis. To-date, Information Science has been peripheral to these collaborative developments, contributing primarily in traditional areas of user information needs and services. The presenters in this interactive panel will challenge participants with a simple but provocative question: "How can Information Science (IS) contribute to research on AD?" To inspire the generation of ideas for connections among existing streams in IS research and questions critical to AD, the panelists will describe briefly their own research in AD or related areas, and speak to their potential to advance research in AD. The audience will then engage in small group discussions for rapid idea generation, exchange and exploration. The discussions will be structured around interdisciplinary research areas developed at the University of Pennsylvania's Ware Alzheimer Program Model: 1. Drug Discovery, 2. Biomarkers, 3. Recruitment, Retention and Outcomes, 4. Care Coordination. The objective is to discuss: the potential for Information Science to contribute in the areas of research identified in the Model; unique perspectives (methods, theoretical frameworks, service models) that IS could provide; and potential research partnerships that could be established within and outside of IS. The session will conclude with a collective development of priorities for Information Science engagement in AD research. The participants will be encouraged to become instigators of an IS focus on AD research in their own disciplinary areas, and to contribute to the development of a collaborative virtual space for continuing discussion of these priorities.